The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-08-11
Miss Grace's Happy Thought.
BY l.. B. COCROFT.

'On, Aunt Emliy!
1t was such an eager, breathless voice
that Mrs. Girton looked up in alarm as
Grace Douglass came into the hall. But
Mamie and Sadie Girton were behind
her and Will Douglass brought up the
rear; so, reassured as to the possibility of
an accident, Mrs. Girton smiled at her
wards eager face, quite sure that Grace
had favor to ask, and quite sure, also,
that the ''favor" was to be allowed to do
something for somebody else.
"Well, my dear, what is it4"
But Grace's first words came as very
decided surprise.
''You know Saturday is my birthday,
Auntic."
"The most important day in the year,"
added Will.
"And I've been thinking that, if you
didn't mind, 1 should like"
"To celebrate it in manner benefit
ting the OCCASION" put in viii.
Grace slipped her pretty hand over
his lips. "Now do be quiet, while l tell
Auntie. I want to have a picnic,
Auntie, over in Eades's woods, with all
the children-all the little girls that is,
that can gather together in the village.
Do say that may"
"But there are not more than half
dozen children" said Mrs. Girton,
doubtfully.
ooh, but Aunty, I mean all the chill
dren. You know the poor little things
don't have much fun, and really it's
simple affair. If you'll let Jane boil
ham and make a good supply of bread,
I'll make lot of cookies and plain cake,
and buy few pounds of candy, and
that's all We'll need.'
"Whereas, last year, when she was
eighteen, we needed music, and salad,
and ices, and jellies, and Chinese Ian
terms, and a new gown, and other things
too. numerous to mention" said Will,
persuasively. "You see, Aunt Emily,
this is decidedly more economical.
Mrs. Girton laughed. ''Do as you
like, my dear; only leave us enough in
the house to last over Sunday. Jane
shall boil the ham, and bake all the
bread and cake you want. Only you
must see how many children there are.
Twenty? Fifty2 I haven't the dim
NEST idea, myself"
"About thirty; certainly not more
than thirty-fve," said Grace, who had
made rapid calculation. "In the first
place, there are Mamie and Saidee, and
l know Mrs. Merton will let her chill
dren come. Then there's the doctors
little daughter, and child who is stay
at the rectory."
"Six," said Will; 'and for number
seven suggest that baby at the black
smiths"
"Four years old? Isn't that rathe.
young2' said Mrs. Girton.
"Will and she are great friends" said
Grace, smiling. "We certainly must have
her, and for the rest, I'll run over and
ask Mrs. Merton for list of names. She
knows everybody"
"The very tNng," said Mrs. Girton.
"Suppose you go over there now. You
will have time before tea-only she viii
be sure to want you to stay"
And Mrs. Merton did. "My dear Grace,
how good of you! Come in, the tea bell
has just rung," she began cordially, go
ing forward to meet the young lady, and
drawing her arm through her own to
lead her into the house. "On begging
expedition you say9 Well, we'll discuss
it at our leisure, and you can lay it before
Mr.. Merton"
"Ah," said that gentleman, show
lucky it is that I slipped dime into
Polly's charity purse this morning! Per-
haps if the cause is very deserving,
may be induced to contribute another
stray penny. Let us hear what it is
Miss Grace, and let me give you some of
these Strawberries"
II only want your children, and some
advice this time" said Grace, detailing
her plan.
my children you may have, on con-
dition that you let me fill corner in one
of your hampers, said Mrs. Merton
promptly. ''You can use corn beef
sandwiches, know, and hard boiled
eggs too. Then doughnuts and some
cake, and oh! by the way, what can YOU
give them to drink7 Let me send big
tin of milk over. Pll see that some &c
goes with it to keep it COOL. Then you
can have"
But there Grace fairly put her hands
over her ears. 'tDear Mrs. Merton,
we have provisions enough for an army. "
"You'll need them all; and, by the
way, let me suggest that you tell the
children to wear plain calico frocks.
1t puts them on something resembling
equality"
'T'll remember; thank you for think
ing of it. And how about the childreni
l told Auntie that they would number
from thirty to thirty-fve."
Mrs. Merton stopped tothink. eyes;
l
I'll write out list after tea, so that we
shall be sure to remember everybody.
Tom, couldn't you spare one of the farm
wagons to take them all to the picnic
groundp
tIet them walk over. and in the af.